io6 



IRISH GARDENING 



Hints to Amateurs. 



By R. M. Pollock. 



Hardy Primulas. — A great many of these plants 

 are only biennials, and have to be grown on from 

 seed year after year to keep up a succession, but 

 sonic of them are perennial and can be kept for 

 years and increased by division. Among these 

 are Primula pulverulenta, with crimson red 

 flowers in whorls on powdered steins, which 

 sometimes reach 3 feet in height : P. japonica and 

 its white variety : P. muscarioides. so called from 

 its likeness to the Muscari, the Grape Hyacinth, 

 with the flowers of a purply blue, in heads with 

 all the flowers facing downwards ; P. rosea, 

 beautiful bright pink, one of the earliest to 

 flower in the spring. These are a few which can 

 be grown by those who have a shady damp 

 corner, and they are now out of flower, and can be 

 divided and planted where wanted. 



Pinks. The garden Pinks, among which is the 

 old favourite Mrs. Sinkins. and. the border 

 Carnations may now be propagated. It is a 

 curious fact. I nit still a true one. that the best 

 time to propagate these is when they are in full 

 flower. Two methods are usually adopted to 

 increase these — by layers and by cuttings. The 

 former is usually applied to Carnations, because 

 the stems in these are broader and therefore 

 easier to handle. These layers should he made 

 of fairly strong shoots, which are easily bent 

 downwards. Place some old potting soil round 

 the selected plant, and with a sharp knife cut a 

 tongue aboul an inch long through a joint, and 

 with a peg made either of wood or wire, peg the 

 layer into the soil, and make all firm with a little 

 more of t he line soil. The cut tings can he inserted 

 in a shady border. The lower leaves should be 

 removed and a clean straight cut made just below 

 a joint, then with a dibble make a hole, insert the 

 cutting to the bottom of t he hole, and firm with 

 soil. If the ground is dry it might be watered 

 before proceeding to work, as it makes it easier 

 to firm the cuttings. Carnation and Pinks in the 

 border will benefit by a little topdressing, and 

 where quality of bloom is desired more than 

 quant it y some of t he buds on t he ( 'arnat ions may 

 be removed. Amateurs are often doubtful as to 



the difference between Pinks and Carnations. 



These charming plants originated from 1 wo 

 distinct species. Our garden Pink came from 

 Dianthus plumarius, the " Feathered I'ink," a 

 European plant , which was supposed to have heen 

 introduced into England as far hack as 1629. 

 They are easily known by having much more 

 slender stems and more grass-like foliage, and a 

 Pink cutting will usually make a number of small 

 shoots round the original cutting during its first 

 year. The Carnation came to English gardens 



from Dianthus caryophyllus ; the exact date of 



introduction seems uncertain, hut it is probably a 

 much older plant than I), plumarius. Border 

 Carnations are easily recognisable by their broad 

 foliage, stronger stems and broader flower buds. 



Wallflowers, Foxgloves, Canterbury Bells ami 

 other biennials sown in .May and early June will. 

 towards the end of the month, he ready to prick 

 out about 6 inches apart into nursery beds, prior 

 to transplant Lag in autumn, when t heir permanent 

 quarters are ready. 



Aquilegias (Columbines) may he sown in the 

 open ground where t here is space, and pricked out 

 when lit to handle. 



Violas, Nasturtiums, and other free-flowering 

 plants may be cut over, and so prolong the (lower- 

 ing period. 



Delphiniums going out of (lower should be cut 

 down: this will induce a second growth, and these 

 blue flowers, coming late in the autumn, will be 

 very acceptable among the wealth of orange and 

 yellow which usually prevails during that season. 



Any autumn-flowering Chrysanthemums not 

 already plant ed out should be attended to at once. 

 Weak Liquid manure is an excellent fertiliser for 

 all plants coming into flower, and is quite the 

 safest form of manure for small gardens. 



Bulbs. — Where the foliage has turned yellow 

 and comes away freely in the hand when pulled 

 it is a sign that the bulbs are tit to lift, and this 

 should he done with a fork and not a spade, as 

 the latter, if it comes in contact with the bulb, 

 will slice it. Choose a dry day to commence 

 work, shake away as much of the soil as possible 

 when lifting, hut leave t he general cleaning of t he 

 bulbs until later on when the weather is too wet 

 for outdoor work. Store these lilted bulbs in a 

 dry shed or loft, and as far as possible keep the 

 different sorts distinct. In ordinary garden 

 borders it is quite unnecessary to lift the bulbs 

 each year, but some of the Narcissi increase so 

 rapidly that, 1 * > ensure a good flower display, thej 

 must be separated now and then — that is to say. 

 every t hree years or so. Where t he foliage of t he 

 Daffodils in grass has died down and turned 

 yellow the grass may he cut. and so restore again 

 the tidy appearance. The fact that the grass 

 must be left uncut where Daffodils are planted is 

 the one great drawback to growing bulbs in a 

 lawn. 



Keep the hoe going, it will save a great deal of 

 weeding later, especially if the weather is dry 

 and hot. when the weeds die away as soon as 

 uprooted. 



Keep Sweet Peas picked over and give plentiful 

 supplies of water and Liquid manure alternately. 



All rubbish should he saved and put in a heap 

 in some out -of-1 lie wa y corner. This should be 

 turned occasionally, and it will in time decay and 

 can then be dug into the garden. If this is not 

 possible, there being no corner which can be given 

 over to it. a small trench can he opened along the 

 wall, in which the rubbish can be buried. No 

 stones or gravel should ever be put on a ru'bbish 



heap. 



Any spare annuals over from the bedding may 

 be used in filling gaps in the holders. Stakes will 

 want looking after, as rain ami wind will strain 

 these and the tyings. and we are sure to have 

 both rain and wind before the summer is out. 



If time allows, hedges may he cul towards the 

 r]n\ of 1 he month. It will he found much easier 

 and less severe on arms and muscles to cul them 

 now or next month, while the wood is soft, than 

 later in the year, when it has become hard. 



Greenhouse. Cinerarias and Primulas raised 



from seed may. if ready, he pricked off. Hoses 

 that have gone out of (lower may he removed 

 from t he house and stood in t he open in a sheltered 

 place. Put a- slate under I he pots to prcveiil 

 worms. &c., entering (he soil. Attend carefully 

 to watering of any plants in I he house. A plant 

 that has once flagged from want of water receives 

 such a check that it seldom ever really recovers. 

 If this should occur, place the pot in a buckel of 

 water, letting the water more than cover the pot. 

 ami leave it there until all I he bubbles have 

 ceased rising from the soil. The length of time 

 this will lake naturally varies according to (he 



